BENGALURU, 11 MARCH

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda has issued a stern directive to all unit officers, mandating the removal of 'POLICE' stickers from any private vehicles within the city. This move follows growing concerns over security and law enforcement, as the commissioner pointed out that such practices could be exploited by criminals or anti-social elements impersonating police personnel.

"Allowing 'POLICE' stickers on private vehicles poses a significant security threat," Dayananda stated. He noted that offenders could use these stickers to engage in illegal activities or evade routine checks during patrols. The presence of such vehicles may also deter officers from conducting necessary inspections, assuming they are official police cars.

This announcement echoes a clarification made earlier in the day by Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara during a session in the Legislative Assembly. He asserted that no law allows police officers to attach 'POLICE' stickers to their private vehicles and warned that any officers found violating this regulation would face disciplinary action.

The commissioner’s directive came in response to a report highlighting the widespread misuse of these stickers in Bengaluru. Dayananda has called for strict enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act and has urged officers to ramp up inspections to ensure compliance.